Animals Involved
Numerous mammals, birds, fish, crustaceans
Known Distributions
Worldwide
Probable Means of Spreading
Foodborne, especially unpasteurized dairy products, raw meat and fish, vegetables, processed foods contaminated after processing; ingestion of contaminated water, soil; direct contact with infected animals; nosocomial in hospitals, institutions
Clinical Manifestations in People
Acute, selflimited febrile gastroenteritis or mild, flulike illness; ocular disease, conjunctivitis; abortion, premature or septicemic newborn if infected during pregnancy; meningitis, meningoencephalitis, septicemia in elderly, immunosuppressed, and infants; papular or pustular rash ± fever, chills in healthy adults after handling infected fetuses